Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Work Study
What is Federal Work Study (FWS)/Federal Student Employment and how does it work?
Some departments prefer to hire FWS students, as they receive government funding to help pay a student’s income. When a student is hired, the department pays 50% of the student’s income from their budget and the government matches the remaining 50%. This all happens behind the scenes for students and will reflect as one amount on their paycheck. It is not credited to the student’s account.
Any funds you earn that are FWS income will not be counted as income on your FAFSA for the following year. Typically, if a student has income for the previous year, they are expected to save a percentage of it for the following year’s education. This is added in to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) you receive upon completing a FAFSA. Since FWS is a need-based financial aid, it is assumed that the money you earn is not saved, but used for the current year in which you earn it. Since it will not be considered income for the following year’s FAFSA, it may lower your EFC for the year following the year that you earned FWS income.
FAQ
How do I get Federal Work Study (FWS)/Federal Student Employment?
You can utilize your FWS award for any on campus job. Apply for Regular Student Employment positions as well as FWS-only positions.
You do not need FWS in order to work on campus. There are plenty of jobs that are open to students without it.
I have Federal Work Study but there are no jobs on Cougar Jobline.
How do I get a job?
Why can't I log into Cougar Jobline?
If you can't log into Cougar Jobline it could be due to the following reasons:
- If you are not enrolled in classes yet, or are not enrolled in enough credits to meet eligibility, that will be your first step. Once you complete enrollment, please allow our system 1-2 business days to add you to our database.
- If you do not meet student employment eligiblity requirements, you will not be permitted to access Cougar Jobline. Please review our eligibility requirements here.
-
If you have a hold on your account for a past due balance, you will not be able to log in to Cougar Joblineuntil you have satisfied requirements set by the Office of the Bursar to remove the hold on your account. Once you are in compliance, allow for one business day before the Bursar clears your account and you are added to our database. You can view the status of the Bursar’s hold status on CougarNet by going to: CougarNet > Student tab > Student Account > View Holds.
-
It may also be that you are trying to log in too early. Please review our Key Employment Dates, found on the Student Employment homepage under the “Things to Know” header on the left.
If you are still having issues, please contact our office at 618-650-2563 or via email at [email protected].
When can I start looking for jobs?
Please review our Key Employment Dates. Jobs are added to Cougar Jobline throughout each semester as needed.
I haven’t been able to find a job on campus. What do I do?
While approximately 1,800 positions on-campus are filled by students each year, there is no guarantee that every student who applies will be offered a job. You are doing everything right if you are logging into Cougar Jobline often and applying for multiple positions. Each department that posts positions is ultimately responsible for interviewing and selecting the person to fill that position. Be sure to follow up on any applications that are submitted to see where that department is in the hiring process. More opportunities come available each day, so please check our website often as each semester change comes nearer.
If you are interested in working for a specific department, feel free to contact them and introduce yourself to see if they have any openings that will be coming in the future so you can keep an eye out for the posting.
Once I have a job, do I have to sign up for direct deposit?
Effective July 1, 2011, all newly hired and rehired student workers, as a condition of employment, are required to participate in the University’s direct deposit program, unless subject to an exception set forth in Part III of the Direct Deposit Policy.
Students must sign up for direct deposit on CougarNet. Direct deposit instructions are available here.
View the Southern Illinois University Direct Deposit Policy.
I signed up for direct deposit. Where is my check?
In the first pay period for which the direct deposit becomes effective, your check will be sent in paper form to the Office of the Bursar, because the initial transmission is a pre-note (a zero transaction to your bank to be certain your pay will be credited in the proper account). If there are any problems detected with the pre-note or your bank is not recognized by the system, you may have more than one check sent to the Bursar’s office. Paper checks are held in the Bursar’s office for one week before they are mailed to the address on file. Each pay period, the method in which you will be provided your paycheck will be shown to you on CougarNet under the Employment tab.
Go to CougarNet > Employment tab > Pay Information > Pay Statement > Current Year > Current Pay Date (It will be shown at the bottom under the heading “Check or Direct Deposit”).
Student employees are paid every other Thursday according to the Payroll Schedule posted under the “Things to Know” section on the Student Employment homepage.
